News Archives

@IOForienteering

Estonia hosts three races this weekend – individual Sprint and Long Distance and a Mixed Relay – to complete this year’s World Cup programme. The two Finns Marika Hara and Jussi Laurila will both be defending 32-point leads in the World Cup standings, and Finland leads the Relay competition by 10 points.

It is a competitor’s best 7 scores from the total of 10 races which count at the end of the World Cup series, whereas in the Relay competition all 4 scores count. Marika Hara’s closest challenger is Christine Schaffner, Switzerland, and in the men’s standings second place is held by Ruslan Gritsan, Russia. The Czech Republic and Russia both have 30 Relay points, behind Finland’s 40, with Switzerland next on 25.

Twenty nations will be represented at the World Cup Finals, with 42 women and 61 men entered for the races. The Sprint takes place on Friday afternoon in the small town of Räpina, with courses of 7.2 km (men) and 6.0 km (women) on a 1:7,500 scale map, expected winning times being about 23 minutes.

The first model event was held this morning. Photo: Reigo Teervalt

Both the Long Distance on Saturday and the Relay on Sunday will be held in sand-based open pine forest with many small hills and depressions near Värska. There are many paths but off-track riding is allowed. The race terrain adjoins the Estonia-Russia border which is well marked by signs and heavily guarded; in the final event Bulletin it is emphasised that anyone crossing the border will be arrested!

Next year’s MTBO World Championships will also be held in Estonia, so this event is good practice for the organising teams.